Keith Barron was born in Mexborough on 8th August 1936.
He started his acting career with Sheffield Repertory, followed by acting parts on television, and on stage with Bristol Old Vic.

He is the father of Jamie and Mark, a writer, who goes by the nom-de-plume of Mark Dawson, while his wife Mary Pickard is a stage designer.

Keith replaced the late Brian Glover as the narrator of the Tetley Tea commercials on British television, and took over from Peter Sallis at short notice to play the part of Captain Striker in Doctor Who.